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Kerala High Court Lifts BCCI’s Life Ban On Cricketer Sreesanth

Kerala High Court Lifts BCCI’s Life Ban On Cricketer Sreesanth:- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been ordered by the Kerala High Court, on Monday, to lift the lifetime ban on cricketer S Sreesanth.

The life time ban against him was imposed by BCCI on the basis of spot-fixing charges in the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League. The court issued the order challenging BCCI’s decision not to lift the ban, after considering a petition filed by the cricketer in March, despite a Delhi court releasing him in 2015.

Sreesanth challenging the ban, had contended at the high court that his constitutional rights were violated for not lifting the ban. The BCCI imposed a ban on him, based on the information provided by Delhi Police and on the basis of the same information that was considered by the court while exonerating him, the case was registered.

The petition had said, in May 2013, the BCCI suspended him from the team and ordered an enquiry following his arrest by Delhi police. The enquiry team led by BCCI president submitted a preliminary report in Jun 2013 without giving him a chance of hearing.

Though his version was obtained in writing later, a supplementary report was filed in July without considering it. A show cause notice was issued by the BCCI. A ban was imposed later on him from playing at international competitions and at games conducted by clubs and institutions affiliated to it, as per the petition.

An additional sessions court exonerated Sreesanth and others from the charges that included offences under Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA), on July 25, 2015.

Responding to Sreesanth’s petition, a criminal court acquitting him is not enough to lift the lifetime ban informed the BCCI to the high court in April.

BCCI’s affidavit to the court had stated, “The standard of proof required under a penal statute is much higher than the proof required for a disciplinary inquiry. Therefore, on an appreciation of the same evidence, one may not be guilty of criminal consequences but can be found guilty for violating the internal disciplinary rules of an organization.”

“It was aware of the sessions court’s decision discharging Sreesanth of the charges but a working committee of BCCI that met at a later point of time decided not to lift the ban”, the affidavit had stated.